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Having shipped to Shapleigh Hardware Co. in St. Louis, the revolver could have gone to just about anywhere in the West, but an included document listing this revolver by serial number indicates just where this revolver came from. Writing in 2003, Randall Sheridan of Springfield,
Missouri, notes that this revolver as well as a now absent rig was sold to him in 1965 by
Deputy U.S. Marshal John Gailey of the Western District of Arkansas from 1937-1955, and
Gailey indicated he carried this revolver on duty as a marshal.
CONDITION: Excellent. The revolver retains 90% plus of the untouched original nickel
finish and has minor muzzle wear, some flaking on the cylinder and by the barrel
address, and some pin point type blistering in some of the cylinder flutes. The front
sight has been filed slightly lower indicating the revolver saw some use. The grips
are fine. There is some flaking at the top of the right panel and small chips at the toe
and heel. The carving and engraving are excellent. Mechanically excellent. This is a
stunning factory engraved Colt Single Action Army embellished by Master Engraver
Wilbur Glahn and fitted with an attractive pair of carved pearl grips with a distinctive steer head with jeweled eyes. Provenance: The Gateway Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 30,000 - 45,000
LOT 1130
Wilbur Glahn Factory Engraved Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Raised Relief Carved Steer Head
Grip, Factory Letter, and Notarized Letter - Serial no. 343895, 38-40 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., nickel finish, pearl grips. The factory letter
verifies the caliber, barrel length, nickel finish, and factory engraving and notes the grips as “Not Listed.” It confirms that it was the sole gun of its type in a shipment to
Shapleigh Hardware Company in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 23, 1922. The “Factory Engraved: Yes” notation is very significant. Using the most liberal statistics, only approximately 2,500 First Generation Colt Single Action Army revolvers of the 357,859 manufactured were
factory engraved. The engraving on this incredibly rare revolver was executed by Master Engraver Wilbur Glahn, and the floral scroll engraving is consistent with other revolvers cut by his hands. Note in particular the “V” shape design behind the hammer which has been seen on other
Glahn engraved Single Actions. He executed the majority of Colt’s factory engraving between 1919 and 1950, but only a select number of SAAs were engraved by Glahn since a significant percentage of the Single Action Army revolvers that were factory engraved were engraved
before Glahn even arrived in Hartford. The barrel, frame, cylinder flats, top and heel of the back strap and the trigger guard bow are decorated with floral scroll engraving with a lined background. The top of the ejector housing is decorated with a simple wavy line and the outer edge
with a wedge of floral scroll with a lined background. Behind each cylinder flute is a star. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address, “38 W.C.F.” is on the left side of the barrel, and the left side of the frame is marked with the two-line patent marking followed by the Rampant Colt trademark. The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame and on the right side of the grip straps under
the grip. The right rear of the frame and the loading gate are marked with the assembly number “539”. The revolver is fitted with pearl grips, and the right grip has a raised relief carved steer head with ruby colored inset eyes.